With Mike Wallace still holding out in Pittsburgh, both Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are getting reps with the first team.

Obviously, Brown was already set as a starter, and that would’ve meant Sanders was in the third receiver spot. Considering both were already expected to play significant roles, this extra time is invaluable.

With the running game questionable thanks to the injury to Rashard Mendenhall, both could hold significant value in 2012.

Golden Tate

We all know that Seattle has never been a place to go for wide receivers, but that was before Matt Flynn came over via free agency.

Is Flynn a lock to produce big numbers? Of course not, but we have to like what he has done coming off the bench in Green Bay and the upside he has compared to the team’s other options.

With Golden Tate already scheduled to start and Sidney Rice hurting (though he’s expected for Week 1), Tate could finally live up to the hype we have heard about all these years.

Brandon LaFell

Steve Smith is going to take a lot of the attention in the Panthers passing attack, and Cam Newton’s ability to scramble is going to open things up even more.

That should provide ample opportunity for Brandon LaFell, who is expected to start at receiver. He showed last season that he had potential, and this year he could easily come into his own.

How much do you think the presence of Peyton Manning will help Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker? We previously looked at the potential of each over at Roto Professor, so make sure to check that out to see why I think Thomas could take a major step forward this season.

Still, at the end of the day, both will benefit greatly and are viable fantasy options.

Mike Williams

Can Mike Williams rediscover the form he showed in his rookie season? The presence of Vincent Jackson will take some of the pressure off, allowing him to bounce back.

I wouldn’t shy away from him based on last year’s struggles.

What are your thoughts on these rankings? Which third-year receivers do you like best?